Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) suffered their first loss of the 2009 West Indies Players Association (WIPA) T20 club championship when they went under to Trinidad and Tobago’s Preysal Cricket Club by four wickets at the Guaracara Park ground yesterday.

Winning the toss and opting to take first strike, DCC who made two changes to the side which defeated Merryboys by seven runs in their first match, scored 144-7 from their 20 overs.

Christopher Barnwell

National all rounder Christopher Barnwell (42; 37 balls 7×4) and Trevon Griffith (31, 22 balls 2×4; 1×6) led the way with the bat.

Guest player Dion Ferrier and Guyana/Stanford Superstar Travis Dowlin offered support with 23 and 21 respectively, with Ferrier who faced 12 deliveries and struck three fours an done six, being unbeaten.

West Indies limited overs player and guest player for DCC Leon Johnson faced five deliveries but failed to trouble the scorers as he was bowled by Kristopher Ramsarran while skipper Derwin Christian was caught at the wicket by Aaron Alfred off Andre Browne for seven.

Shazan Babwah (2-27) and Browne 2-35 were the principal wicket takers for Preysal, who needing to achieve victory from 19.1 overs to qualify for the next round, scored 145-6 from 18.1 overs.

Babwah returned with the bat and recorded his 50 from 35 deliveries with seven fours and one six, before he was caught by Dennis Squires off Leroy Bristol for a top score of 55 from 40 deliveries. It was decorated with eight fours and one six  while Andy Jackson (24) and Kjorn Ottley (20) offered support.

Former national opening batsman Azeemul Haniff was unbeaten on 10 (1×4) when victory was achieved for Preysal against the bowling of Barnwell who grabbed 1-15 to be the best bowler for the Queenstown-based tournament debutants who made their exit from the tournament.